​We've heard a lot on Monday about the Boston Red Sox, but nothing more important than the current contract situations surrounding Chris Sale and Xander Bogaerts.

Outside of Mookie Betts, Sale is arguably Boston's most valuable player, and aside from Betts and JD Martinez, Bogaerts is arguably the team's next most important position player. Both bring value in their own unique way, and although the Red Sox are dealing with an inflated payroll at the moment, ​owner John Henry can't afford to have either of these guys leave in free agency.

​​The Sox need to lock them up to long-term extensions as soon as possible in order to keep their current World Series core together. With Betts expected to be a Sox lifer and Martinez expressing his love for Boston, if the Sox can keep this team together (don't forget, Andrew Benintendi will also be under club control for a while and David Price opted into his contract), they have the potential to be a dynasty. Not to mention, their heated rivalry with the Yankees will only make the game more entertaining.

No matter the situation, the Red Sox will be able to easily figure out life beyond a Sale, Price, Betts, Martinez, Bogaerts, Benintendi core. ​The bullpen and rotation behind Sale and Price will likely need some work, but that's as good a start with a roster you're going to get.

One thing's for sure: After opening admitting the team blew Jon Lester's free agency, Henry isn't going to make the same mistake twice.

While Sale is entering his ninth year, he just keeps getting better and better, as evidenced by his career-best campaigns the last two seasons. As for Bogaerts, he's a 26-year-old shortstop ready to enter the prime of his career. And if his bat can remain protected amongst the rest of the team's sluggers, he's going to be one of the best shortstops in the ​MLB for years to come.

That should be enough for the Sox front office to make this happen before the 2019 season comes to a close.